Pie oh my

Happy Pi Day!

Today is a big day for those of us who like math and sweets.

Pi celebrates the mathematical constant symbolized by the Greek letter "pi". Its first three digits are 3.14, which is why it’s celebrated on March 14.

If you're looking for a sweet treat, Bierock has a special menu with an array of pie offerings. State Line Distillery will also be serving up hand pies and craft cocktails for the occasion. And Delta Beer Lab brewed a special Cherry Pie Cider for the occasion. Pretty sweet, right?

— Hayley

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• Vel Phillips Memorial High School graduate Reette Thorns received a "golden ticket" for her audition on "American Idol" over the weekend, securing her a spot in the next round of competition.
• In her audition, Thorns told judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan of her difficult upbringing in Madison growing up without a stable home and a mother struggling with addiction.
• Thorns sang "I Believe" by Fantasia, a former American Idol winner and personal inspiration to the young singer. She dedicated the performance to her mother, saying "I want to show her that she does have something to believe in. I want her to know that I’m rooting for her."

• We're only a few weeks away from the April 4 election. Who will appear on your ballot will vary depending on where you live. Don't get caught off-guard at the polls. Check out your sample ballot here.
• Get prepared: Come Election Day, you'll also need a voter ID. Get to know the candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court here. Read up on the mayoral candidates here. And get to know the City Council candidates here.

Want this sweet Madison Minutes hat?

You can’t buy one, but you can win one. We’re giving away 25 hats in March.

Learn more about Hatapalooza

• More than two dozen buildings downtown were vandalized with homophobic graffiti targeting openly gay Ald. Mike Verveer.
• Verveer has served on the Madison City Council since 1995 and according to Cap Times, "has never been found to have engaged in unethical conduct."
• "I am deeply saddened by the hateful attack on me, and I know Madisonians will see it for what it is: a vile expression of ignorance and prejudice," Verveer said in a statement. "To the individual or individuals responsible, I have this message: Love wins."
• The incident occurred less than a month away from the spring election, in which Verveer will face opponent Maxwell Laubenstein to represent downtown District 4.

• The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is investigating a scam targeting FoodShare members with fake texts asking for personal information.
• DHS officials said they received complaints from recipients who received texts instructing them to call a phone number and confirm their account information to avoid being locked out of benefits. The scammers then use this information to steal benefits. In response to the scam, the agency is discontinuing and replacing all compromised QUEST cards so the information can't be used.
• Determining real vs. fake: DHS will only text about FoodShare benefits from 94347 and email from dhs@info.wisconsin.gov. These correspondences will not ask for personal information.

🐶 Happy Take Me Home Tuesday! Meet: Hope.

• Via Dane County Humane Society: This nearly 11-month-old pup can be shy at first, but once she warms up, she's very playful. She loves playing tug and fetch, munching on treats, and running about in the snow. Hope also enjoys fence running with other dogs. She does well walking on a leash, and knows sit and a few other requests.
  
  Hope is looking for an energetic family who will take her on fun adventures and play with her while also working with her on her positive reinforcement training.
  
  Think Hope would make a great addition to your family? Stop by and meet her!

🎙️ Today on City Cast Madison

The Secret to Finding a Four-Leaf Clover

The bagpipes were back on the Capitol Square last weekend for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. With the official holiday mere days away, how are you celebrating?

If you’re Fitchburg alder Gabriella Gerhardt, you’re trying to break the world record for “Largest Collection of Four-Leaf Clovers.”

Four-leaf clovers are considered lucky due to their rarity. They’re technically a genetic mutation of a common clover plant. Gerhardt already holds the records for “Most four-leaf clovers collected in one hour” and “Most four-leaf clovers collected in eight hours.” She’s got a whole room in her house devoted to them.

And she’s joining us today to share her secrets about how to find these treasures. (When it’s not snowing, that is...)

📅 Events

Today

• Bus Rapid Transit Construction (West Side) Public Info Meeting. Virtual.
• Drag Bingo with Bianca Lynn Breeze & Loretta Love Lee at Comedy on State
• Euchre at Starkweather Brewing Company
• Madison Mayoral Candidate Forum at Westminster Presbyterian Church
• Pi Day with Pies by Emily at State Line Distillery
• State of the Tribes Address at Wisconsin State Capitol

Tomorrow

• Project Projection: Spring 2023 at Arts + Literature Laboratory 🟠
• Drag Bingo with Cynthia Mooseknuckle at Young Blood Northstreet
• Gib's Give & Takeaway Comedy Show! at Gib's
• Lecture: "Jews & Muslims in Christian America" at Lakeview Lutheran Church
• Author Daniel Rehm in Conversation with Doug Moe at Mystery to Me

🟠 Wondering about the orange circle? That symbol next to an event means that Tone Madison recommends checking it out.

⏪ Yesterday's news

• The county has picked a site for its new mental health crisis center.
• Badgers men’s basketball won't be going to the Big Dance.
• Two chances to hear from Madison's mayoral candidates this week.
• Madison College tuition could be going up.
• Your lunchtime read: Wisconsin's neighbors are raking in hundreds of millions from weed taxes.